Drug name
Danazol
Drug Uses
Danaol is a synthetic hormone. It is taken while treating infertility and pain that are caused by endometriosis. This condition is known to involve the tissue of the uterus. Danazol is also used for treating lumps or cysts in the breast. It may also be prescribed for heavy menstrual flow.
How Taken
Danazol should be used as prescribed. You are to keep your dosing schedule carefully andt take for full period of therapy. To make sure the medicine is working in a proper way you may be asked to visit your doctor from time to time. As usual healing starts with 100mg three times daily. Further the dose should be increased to 200mg three times a day. Check your blood pressure regularly. Perform blood sugar levels and liver function tests from time to time.
Drug Class and Mechanism
This drug is a synthetic male sex hormone androgen. It works by disrupting the action of the pituitary gland by way of suppressing the output of some hormones. It results in the decresion of estrogen, halting menses and promoting the growth of acne and facial hair. It is a second line treatment. The response rate is about thirty per cent.
Missed Dose
If you omit a dose of Danazol, take it immediately. If you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and follow your everyday dosing schedule. Do not take two doses of Danazol at once.
Storage
Keep Danazol away from sunlight and moisture at room temperature.
Warnings Precautions
It is prohibited to use this drug during pregnancy. A pregnancy test is recommended before starting take of this medication. Effective and non-hormonal birth control measures should also be taken during using Danazol. The drug may cause blood clots, increase pressure on the brain or cause problems with liver. Inform your doctor at once when you feel any of the following:
Weakness in one side, yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, dizziness, fainting, swelling, pain in stomach, headachen rapid vision changes, slurred speech, pain in arms or legs, breathing trouble, pain in the chest.
Contact your doctor in case you have:
liver or kidney disease, seizures, breast cancer, bleeding, strokes, migraine headaches, heart disease, prostate cancer, allergies.
If blurred vision, dizziness takes place, be carefull while activities that require alertness. For use in children extreme caution is recommended. Geriatric men are at the hightened risk of prostate cancer or growing the enlarged prostate while the use of androgen-like medicines. Using of non-hormonal contraceptives is adviced during using Danazol. Taking the remedy can result in stopping of menstrual periods. Nevertherless, as usual they resume within two to three months after Danazol therapy. This medication must not be used in the period of pregnancy. Tell your doctor immediately if you suspect you are pregnant,. Breast feeding is prohibited while using Danazol.
Possible Side Effects
Danazol may cause fatigue, appetite changes, headache, stomach upset, bloating, anxiety. After your body adjusts to the medicine these effects should fade away. There are some other side effects including: muscle cramps, fluid retention in the hands, feet, nasal, oily skin, gain of weight, flushing, change in sex drive.
Tell your doctor if any of these side effectsbecome bothersome. Inform your doctor immediately if you have:
abnormal growth of fine body hair, facial hair, changes with vision, yellowing of the skin or eyes, depression, voice deepening, one-sided weakness, slurred speech,
no or irregular menstrual periods (for women). If you experience some other effects that are not registered above, address your doctor or pharmacist at once.
More Information
Contact your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects happen:
Bruising/ bleeding; tiredness; vomiting; yellow skin or eyes; decrease in breast size; irregular menstrual periods; pain/ tenderness of abdomen, stomach; bloody urine; numbness or pain, in all fingers except the smallest one; vision changes; pain in chest; complete/ partial numbness or weakness on one body side; cough; acne; dark-colored urine; oiliness of skin and hair; muscle cramps/ spasms; swelling of feet; rapid weight gain; bleeding gums; bloating, diarrhea; speaking difficulty; difficulty in swallowing; eye pain; fast heartbeat; fever; headache; hives; joint pain; light-colored stools; appetite loss; loss of muscle coordination; frequent nosebleeds; muscle aches; nausea; colored spots on body or inside the mouth, nose; breath shortness; sore throat; enlarged clitoris; hoarseness/ deepening of voice; unnatural hair growth; changes in semen; decrease in size of testicles ; sweating; numbness or weakness in legs, upwarding to arms.
Other side effects may take place but they that usually do not need special medical attention.
Such side effects may fade away while treatment when your body manages to adjust to the medication. Anyway, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue:
dryness, burning, itching of vagina; vaginal bleeding, flushing of skin; mood changes; nervousness; increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight.
Other side effects that are not registered above may also take place in some patients. Contact your doctor as soon as you notice any other effects.